Support for air conditioning apparatus



June 23, 1959 D. KUHLENSCHMIDT EI'AL SUPPORT FOR AIR couorrroumc mmuws 4 Shins-shut. 1

Filed Sept. 12, 1955 June 23, 1959 p. KUHLENSCHMIDT ETAL 2,3 5 SUPPORT FOR AIR. CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Sefat. 1.2, 1955 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 71/I/l/IIR IN V EN TORS.

M jadmmw" June 23, 1959 o. 'KUHLENSCHMIDT z-rm. 2,891,754 I SUPPORT FQR AIR coumnoumc APPARATUS Filed Sept. 12, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 nited States Patent 2,891,754 Patented June 23, 1959 fifice SUPPORT FOR AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Donald Kuhlenschmidt, Newbnrgh, and Curtis 0. Fowler, Spurgeon, Ind., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application September 12, 1955, Serial No. 533,850

6 Claims. (Cl. 248-208) This invention relates to air conditioning apparatus of the type generally incorporated into a small unit and which is adapted for mounting in a window opening. More specifically, however, it is concerned with a structure that is suitable for removably positioning and supporting such apparatus in a window opening of the room or enclosure to be cooled.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Serial No. 477,376 filed December 23, 1954, now abandoned.

Heretofore, many such window mounted air conditioning units have been developed and utilized with varying degrees of adaptability and success. From time to time, however, new obstacles thrown into the paths of past and presents developments, have created new problems which, in turn, required further changes and improvements to meet the new requirements growing out of the introduction of such obstacles. In the past the large majority of air conditioning units of this type were designed to be removably positioned in the window opening in such manner that a portion of the unit projected into the room or enclosure being cooled while another portion thereof projected outwardly beyond the wall of the building containing said room. Of recent times, however, objections have developed in ever increasing proportions against the use of units that project out of the window any appreciable distance and such objections have brought about the enactment of ordinances in many cities which prohibit the projection of any such units beyond the building line. On the other hand, many objections have also developed on the part of householders and interior decorators against having such units extend any appreciable distance into the room being cooled because they are unsightly, occupy valuable space and interfere with the hanging of draperies and the like. Hence, such existing circumstances require the manufacture and marketing of at least two different, although somewhat similar, units with an attendant objectionable increase in individual costs because of such multiplication of apparatus. Furthermore, no previous attempt to produce a generally flexible mounting arrangement for such units has succeeded in providing a simplified and removable assembly that is entirely flexible and adaptable for use with a multitude of difierently contoured and dimensioned window frame structures, and which, additionally, is rugged enough to provide the support required for air conditioning apparatus without marring or damaging the surfaces of the window frames.

Up to the present time no structures have been pro duced or proposed which could satisfactorily meet the unusual requirements necessitated by the aforementioned conditions and it is an important feature of the present invention to provide a simple and highly practicable supporting and mounting structure for air conditioning apparatus which is sufficiently flexible to surmount and overcome the limitations and difiiculties enumerated above.

The principal object of the present invention, therefore,

2 is to provide an air conditioning unit adaptable for mounting in a window opening and which, additionally, may be so mounted that a substantial portion of the unit extends into the space being cooled or, if desired, a substantial portion thereof may project outwardly beyond the walls of the space being cooled.

Another object is to provide a window type air conditioning unit that is highly flexible in that it may readily be adapted for use with a multitude of variously shaped and dimensioned window frames.

A further object is to provide an air conditioning unit equipped with a mounting assembly that permits the installation of the unit in a window frame without damaging said frame or marring the appearance thereof.

A still further object is to provide a window mounted type air conditioning unit that is simple and easy to install or remove, and which, furthermore, may be completely installed or removed from inside the enclosure being cooled.

A yet still further object is to provide a mounting structure for a window-mounted type air conditioning unit that includes clamping means adjustable from inside the building for removably securing the unit to variously contoured and dimensioned window frames.

Another important object is to provide an air conditioning unit having very rugged and stable mounting means for' permitting said unit to be removably mounted in a window frame without requiring the use of any permanent type of attaching devices which might mar the appearance of said frame.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the cabinet of an airconditioning unit which is mounted in a window structure by means of a preferred form of the mounting assembly of the proposed invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of an air-conditioning unit which is mounted according to the present invention in a window opening so that only a very small portion of the cabinet is disposed within the room to be cooled;

Fig. 3 is a side-elevational view similar to Fig. 2, but;

having the cabinet positioned so that only a very small portion thereof projects outwardly beyond the room;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation or outside view of the unit shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, but showing in enlarged dimension the cabinet outer support structure in greater detail;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 1 and shows in enlarged dimension the cabinet inner support mounting bracket and clamp;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the sill angle used in the outer support assembly;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the window sill clamp used with the outer support assembly;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the inner mounting bracket used with the inner support assembly;

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the cabinet of an air-conditioning unit which is mounted in a window structure by means of the mounting assembly of the present invention, but employing a modified form of the inner support mounting strap and clamp;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 1111 of Fig. 10 and shows inenlarged dimension the modified cabinet inner support mounting strap and clamp;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the modified innersupport mounting strap; and

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the modified inner mounting clamp.

In one preferred embodiment selected for illustrating an application of the present invention there is depicted a window type air conditioning unit, indicated generally by the reference character 1! which includes a housinglike casing or cabinet 11 having one end and a bottom open and which is fashioned for enclosing the refrigerating apparatus (not shown). The refrigerating apparatus may be supported on a generally conventional not shown) slidable base assembly or apparatus compon nt that may include a base or support member upon which said apparatus is supportably positioned, and a vertical wall-like member attached thereto that may also function as a front or inner wall for the unit after positioning of said refrigerating apparatus, which may be inserted, by way of the slidable assembly, throu h the open front end of said shell-like cabinet. Appropriate intake and exhaust grilled openings may, if desired, be incorporated in said front wall member for purposes of circulating cooled air through the room, as is the general practice in such units.

The rear or outwardly opening end of the cabinet or housing 11 is covered with a wall member 16 that has a large opening 17 therein through which outside atmosphere may be taken into or exhausted from the unit for condenser cooling purposes in accordance with wellknown practices in the industry.

Affixed, as by welding or the like, to the lower portion of each side wall of the cabinet shell 11 is a horizontally extending L-shaped angle guide or rail member 18, and one such member on each of the two side walls cooperates, when positioned in opposed relation, to function as a track or guide along which the removable apparatus base member (not shown) may slide when the refrigerating apparatus assembly or component is inserted and removed from the enclosing housing-like cabinet ll. A transverse member 19 extends across the rear of the cabinet and the ends thereof are fixedly joined, as by welding or the like, to the respective confining side rail members 18, while an additional transverse mem ber 20 interconnects the front or room end portions of said rail members thereby providing a cabinet or hous ing structure which is relatively rugged and inexpensive to fabricate. and louvered openings 22 in the top wall together with opening 17 in the rear wall 16 thereof provide means through which outside air may be brought into the cabinet and into contact with the high side of the refrigerating apparatus for the purpose of extracting heat therefrom, after which the heated air is discharged back into the outside atmosphere in accordance with well-known operational procedures.

Each guide or rail member 18 is provided with a plurality of elongated or slot-like openings 23 which are arranged in pairs, with the individual slots of each pair transversely spaced from one another, and each pair longitudinally spaced from the next pair throughout the length of said rail members. As shown in the drawings the long axis of each slot extends along the longitudinal dimension of the rail member for reasons which will presently be better understood.

The cabinet 11 upon positioning in a window frame is adapted to rest the inner portion thereof on the window stool 24 and, preferably, is disposed so that at least a small portion of the inner ends of the rail members 16 extend inwardly beyond the vertical face 25 of said stool to permit affixment thereto of a front or inner mounting strap 26. Said inner or stool mounting strap 26, in one particular form, is fashioned to resemble an inverted U or saddle having a pair of parallel spaced apart legs 26:: which are connected together by a cross-member or arm 26b. The legs 26a of said strap are spaced apart a distance that will permit them to be inserted in straddle fashion in the two associated slots 23 of any pair thereof Louvered openings 21 in each side wall in the rail members 18, and said legs are each further fashioned with an offset so as to provide a shoulder 26c for engaging or abutting the bottom surface of the rail members 18.

A stool or inner mounting bracket 27 is fashioned with two triangularly-shaped spaced apart and parallel side wall members 27a which are connected together by a horizontal wall 27b and a connected vertical wall 270 disposed at right angles to said horizontal wall 27b. A cage nut 27d is fixedly positioned in an opening in the horizontal wall 27b while the vertical wall 270 is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally extending slot-like openings 27s. Aligned openings 27 one in each of the walls 27a of said bracket, are adapted for accommodating a pin 27g which also passes through similar registering openings 2nd in the strap 26 and thus pivotally secures the bracket to said strap and between the walls thereof. A machine screw 26h threaded into the cage nut 27d engagingly abuts a clamp member 28.

The inner or stool clamp 28 is a channel-like member fashioned with end portions flanged outwardly to provide an ear-like extension 28a at one end, and an oppositely extending ear-like extension 2817 at the opposite end thereof. The extension or lip 28b is dimensioned to fit into any one of the slotted openings 27: in the bracket 27 while the opposite ear or lip-like extension 28a is adapted to press against the underneath surface 24:: of the window stool 24. As the bolt or machine screw 2611 is tightened against the clamp 28 the bracket 27, being connected through the pin 27g to the strap 26, will function to cause the respective rail member 18 to be firmly gripped between the offset 26c and the connecting cross-arm 26b of said strap and, at the same time, said rail member will be pulled down tightly against the upper surface of the window stool 24. In order to accommodate window stools of different thicknesses either he clamp 28 may be anchored or positioned in any one of the several slots 27@ in the bracket 27, or the pin 27g may be repositioned in any one of a plurality of selectable combinations of the openings 27 and Zed, or a combination of both these adjustments may be made.

In order to support the outer or outwardly projecting ends of the rail members 18 there are provided adjustable mounting supports that distribute the weight thereof to the window sill 29 and to the building wall 39. A saddle-like outer or sill mounting strap 31, which is adapted for insertion in straddle fashion into the two associated slots of any pair of slotted openings 23 in respective rail member 18, is fashioned with a pair of parallel, spaced apart and generally L-shaped legs 31a connected together at one end thereof by a connecting leg or cross-arm 31b, and having aligned openings 31c disposed proximate the free ends thereof.

A mounting support 32, fashioned as a generally U- shapcd channel member, has a pair of aligned openings 32a in the walls proximate one end thereof which are adapted to accommodate a pin 32b that additionally passes through aligned openings 310, in the strap 31, and pivotally secures said support to said strap. Distributed throughout a substantial portion of the opposed walls of said support are a plurality of aligned openings 320 which provide for an adjustable connection with a sill mounting angle member 33.

The sill mounting angle 33, one of which is provided for each rail member 13, is fashioned as a U-shaped channel member having spaced apart and parallel side walls 33a that are connected together by a central member or cross wall 331). An extension which is outwardly turned from the central wall member 33b provides a hook-like flange 330 by means of which said angle is supported on the upper surface of window sill 29. Aligned openings 33d in the opposite walls thereof accommodate a pin 33e by means of which said angle is pivotally connected, through one set of openings 32c therein, to the mounting support 32. A cage nut 33] which is fixedly positioned in an opening in the connecting central member 3312, of said sill mounting angle 33, threadably receives a bolt or threaded stud 333, to one end of which is fastened a foot-like support or levelet 33h that presses against or engages the outer surface of the building wall 30. By adjusting the stud 33g, the mounting angle member 33 may be vertically aligned as well as spaced varying distances from said building wall. In the central leg 33b of said mounting angle there are provided a plurality of vertically spaced and longitudinally extending slotted openings 33 which are adapted to receive an interlocking portion of an outer clamp member 34. Said central member 33b is also provided with a plurality of vertically spaced circular openings 33k, some of which openings pass through the center of the horizontally slotted openings 33 therein, as shown in the drawings.

The outer or sill clamp 34 is a generally triangularly shaped channel member having an interlocking extension 34a on one end thereof that is positionable in any one of the slotted openings 33j, in the mounting angle 33, while the opposite end 34b of the clamp abuts or presses against the underneath surface of the window sill 29. A machine screw 340, which passes freely through one of the openings 33k in said sill mounting angle, is threadably received in the clamp 34, and when said screw is tightened, said clamp tightly presses against the underneath surface of the sill 29 and causes the sill mounting angle 33 to be secured in a grip-like fashion to the upper surface of the window sill 29. With this outer clamping assembly tightly secured to the window sill and connected by means of support 32 to the rail member 18, and with the inner clamping assembly tightly secured to the window stool, it will be appreciated that the housing or cabinet 11 will be firmly positioned in the window frame and will be in condition to receive and support the refrigerative apparatus component 12 therein.

The openings 320, in the supports 32, and the openings 33d, in the mounting angles 33, preferably, are so cooperatively spaced that the projecting outer ends of the rail members 18 are adjustable in the order of A3" increments, while further smaller increments of adjustment within each /s range may easily be obtained by the use of the bolt or stud 33g and its attached footing support member 33h. The pins 27g, 32b and 33a may be suitably secured in position by any conventional means.

With both vertical and horizontal adjustments being provided for it will readily be appreciated that a great many combinations of such positions may be effected so as to securely accommodate the unit in various positions in the window frame, and, at the same time also provide adjustments that will adapt the supporting structure to fit variously contoured and dimensioned window frame structures. It will be understood, of course, that one such inner and outer clamp-and support assemblies will be associated with each rail or guide member 18, but since these assemblies are identical only one of each such assembly has been described in detail.

After the cabinet 11 has been suitably positioned in the window frame and the clamp and support assemblies properly aligned and tightened a resilient gasket may be positioned between the window sash 35 and the top wall of said cabinet so as to effect a better air seal therebetween, and filler pieces of suitable material may also be positioned to seal off the space between the side of the window frame 36 and the side wall of the cabinet and such pieces may be removably secured thereto by conventional means, as is well understood by those skilled in the art.

In Figs. -13 there is illustrated a modified form of the inner or front mounting support assembly. In this simplified modification the front or inner stool mounting strap, shown generally by the numeral 37, is likewise fashioned to resemble a saddle or an inverted U having a pair of parallel spaced apart legs 37a which are connected togetherby a cross-member or arm 37b. Said legs 37a are spaced apart a distance that will permit them to be inserted in straddle fashion in the two associated slots 23 of any pair thereof in the rail members 18, and said legs are further fashioned with an offset so as to provide a shoulder 37c for engaging or abutting the bottom surface of the rail members 18 as heretofore noted. The legs 37a are also provided with a series of key-hole slot-like openings 37d which are vertically spaced and arranged in horizontally spaced pairs with an oppositely positioned slot in each leg of said strap, while the cross-member 37]) thereof is fashioned with an opening 37e substantially centered therein. The modified inner mounting clamp,

indicated generally at 38, is fashioned with a flat central Web member 38a which has the marginal edges thereof flanged over as shown at 38b, while the one end 380 of said web portion is upturned the other end 38d thereof is downwardly turned. The end portion 38d is further provided with wing-like extensions 38e38e which are generally T shaped and which extend outwardly beyond the planes of the flanged edges 38b thereof. An opening in the web portion 38a is provided to accommodate a conventional cage nut 38 The side rail members 18, of the cabinet shell 11, when employed with the modified inner support mounting strap and clamp, may additionally be fashioned with a plurality of openings 18a which are longitudinally spaced to correspond with the spacing of the slotted openings 23 and are centered therebetween.

Since the remaining structural details of the modified mounting assembly. are identical to those shown in the preferred embodiment the same reference numerals have been used to indicate the same components in both structures.

After the mounting strap 37 is positioned within a pair of the slotted openings 23, in a rail member 18, and the clamp 38 is positioned so that the oppositely extending wing portions 38e38e thereof are positioned in an appropriate pair of the key-hole slots 37d, of said strap, a relatively fiat-headed bolt 39 is then positioned through the opening 372 in said strap and then through one of the aligned openings 18a in said rail member, and is threadably anchored in the cage nut 38 The upturned end 330 of said clamp is adapted to press against the underneath portion of the window stool 24 and as the bolt 39 is tightened it will operate to cause the respective rail member 18 to be firmly gripped between the offset 370 and the connecting cross-arm 37b, of said strap, and, at the same time, said rail member will be pulled down tightly against the upper surface of said window stool. In order to accommodate window stools of different thicknesses the clamp may be anchored or positioned in any one of the several key-hole slots 37d in the strap 37..

Since the outer clamp and support assemblies are identical with those heretofore described with the first preferred form of the mounting, it is felt no further description thereof is necessary.

From the foregoing it will be readily appreciated that the present invention provides a very simple and rugged means for mounting an air conditioning unit in a window opening. Furthermore, it provides a structure that is easily installed or removed with only a simple tool, and yet the structure is sufficiently flexible to permit installation of the unit substantially inside or outside of the room, and which additionally is suitable for use with a multitude of differently contoured and dimensioned window frames. It is to be understood, of course, that changes may be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A support for an air conditioning unit of the window type, comprising a longitudinally extending lower frame member provided with a multiplicity of longitudinally extending elongated slots arranged in .pairs parallel to each other, a pair of sheet metal straps bent to substantially U shape and each strap having its legs located in a pair of said elongated apertures, said straps being provided with aligned apertures in its legs in each case, a depending frame member pivotally mounted on a pivot passing through the apertures of one strap and comprising a channeled member having apertures in parallel flanges, a clamping member comprising a metal member having parallel side walls joined by two webs at right angles to each other, a clamp having its end located in an aperture in one of said webs, and a threaded member engaged in the other of said webs and urging said clamp toward said elongated frame member to clamp a window stool, said depending frame member also being engaged by a second clamping member which is clamped above and below the sill of a window opening, said second clamping member comprising a channel having an extended web bent laterally to engage above said window sill and having a screw bolt extending through said latter web and urging another clamp against the bottom of the window sill, said latter channel being provided with a threaded member adjustably mounted in its web and having a head for engaging the side wall of the building below said window sill.

2. In an adjustable mounting for an air conditioner housing of the type to be mounted in a window of an enclosure, the combination of a pair of transverse lower frame members extending parallel to the Window and a p"it of elongated frame members secured to the transverse frame members and extending toward the window, said elongated frame members being provided at one end with clamping means for engaging below the window stool and preventing movement of the housing outward, said elongated frame members also supporting a depending pivoted brace, a vertically extending sill clamping member, said brace being secured at its lower end to the sa d sill clamping member, said sill clamping member in each case comprising a channel having a laterally bent flange engaging above the window sill on the outside and having a through threaded member drawing said sill clamping member against the bottom of the window sill, the said sill clamping member being provided at its lower end in each case with a through threaded member adjustably mounted thereon and having its end engaging the side of the enclosure below said window sill and preventing the movement of the housing in any direction.

3. in an adjustable mounting for an air conditioner housing of the type to be mounted in a window or" an enclosure, the combination of a pair of transverse lower irame members extending parallel to the window and a pair of elongated frame members secured to the transverse frame members and extending toward the Window, said elongated frame members being provided at one end clamping means for engaging below the Window stool and preventing movement of the housing outward, said elon ated frame members also supporting a depending pivoted brace, a vertically extending sill clamping member, said brace being secured at its lower end to the said sill clamping member, said sill clamping member in each case comprising a channel having a laterally bent flange engaging above the window sill on the outriide and a through threaded member drawing said sill clamping member against the bottom of the window s ll, the said sill clamping member being provided at its {fill O lower end in each case with a through threaded member adjustably mounted thereon and having its end engaging the side of the enclosure below said window sill and preventing the movement of the housing in any direction, the said elongated frame members being provided with a multiplicity of pairs of elongated slots, each pair comprising parallel slots and the parallel slots supporting a U-shaped member with its legs through the slots to mount said depending member on the housing and to mount the first-mentioned clamping member on the housing.

4. A support for an air conditioning unit of the window type, comprising a housing having side walls provided with lower inwardly turned bottom flanges borderan open bottom, a pair of angle frame members having vertical and horizontal flanges fitting against the inside of said side walls and said bottom flanges and secured to said housing, said angle frame members having a multiplicity of transverse elongated apertures arranged in pairs parallel to each other, a pair of metal straps bent to the shape of a rectangular U and having aligned apertures in the parallel legs thereof, a clamp mounting member comprising a sheet metal member having parallel side walls joining two webs at right angles to each other, the said side walls having aligned apertures and a pin mounting said member on one of said straps, one of said webs having an aperture for a bolt, and the other of said webs having a plurality of parallel transverse slots, a screw bolt in said latter aperture, and a clamping member having an up-turned tongue insertable in one of said transverse slots, and having a jaw for engaging below a window stool, a. nut held by a cage flange on said clamp mounting member, said bolt being threaded through said nut and engaging said clamping member to clamp the stool.

5. A support for an air conditioning unit according to claim 4, in which the angle frame members each support another U strap pivotally mounting a depending frame member, a vertical channelled frame member having a plurality of apertures in its side flanges and having elongated transverse slots in its web, with a central bolt aperture in each of said latter slots, said channelled frame member having its web bent out to form a jaw engaging the top of a sill, a screw bolt passing through one of said bolt apertures, and a lower clamping member having a nut secured in a cage, and having a lower tab engaged in one of said transverse slots of said vertical frame member, the bolt drawing said lower clamping member into engagement with the bottom of the sill.

6. A support for an air conditioning unit according to claim 5, in which said depending frame member has a pin pivotally connecting its end to said vertical channel and a large headed screw bolt threaded in a bore in the web of said vertical frame member and engaging the wall below the sill of the window to hold said vertical frame member in vertical position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 

